Prebiotic Functional Enhancement of Rumen Microbiomes

2026-07-22

Dr. Greta Reintjes proposes to work with Dr. Wade Abbott at the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to investigate the Prebiotic Functional Enhancement of Rumen Microbiomes (RUMIC). Ruminates, specifically cattle and sheep, are significant contributors to food production systems worldwide, with the EU alone producing 7 million tons of beef per year. This major agricultural sector faces significant economic obstacles due to increasing food safety and public health concerns over antimicrobial use in livestock. RUMIC aims at addressing these concerns by investigating the promising strategy of prebiotic application in livestock production systems for improved animal health and production. Prebiotics function by modulating the gut microbiome of ruminants towards improved metabolism of feeds, competitive exclusion or mitigation of pathogens, and enhanced overall animal health. RUMIC will employ novel methods in, molecular ecology, analytical chemistry, bioinformatics and super-resolution and live-cell imaging to i) visualise and quantify the uptake of prebiotics by rumen isolates, ii) to culture-independently analyse the effect of prebiotics on simplified artificial rumens, and iii) to isolate and characterise microorganisms with specific carbohydrate degrading potentials to discover novel metabolic pathways and enzymes, with the overall goal of providing evidence-based solutions for rumen microbiome enhancements. RUMIC will facilitate a mutually beneficial, interdisciplinary exchange of scientific skills and knowledge between two leading research institutes in Canada and Germany. Furthermore, it will provide a unique research platform for Dr. Reintjes, an early career researcher, to pursue an independent research project, enabling the acquisition of new knowledge, improved communication skills, establishment of new collaborations, and widening her career perspectives to the academic and industrial sector.

Germany

2026-02-01